Smoothing-tool.



L. L MORAN.

SMOOIHING TOOL.

APPLICATION HLED NOV. 24, my

1,289,}2Q9, Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

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LILYAN LIZA MORAN, F RIPLEY, MISSISSIPPI.

SMOOTHING-TOOL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

Application filed November 24, 1916. Serial No. 133,277.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LILYAN LIZA MORAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ripley, in the county of Tippah and State of Mississippi, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Smoothing- Tools, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in smoothing tools, and more particularly to devices of this character such as are intended for use in smoothing concrete or other surfaces being formed by the use of plastic material.

An object of my invention is to provide a smoothing tool which can be used in smoothing out a plastic material which is to form a walk, floor, or other surface and which is so constructed that the implement is provided with a long handle to be grasped in use and thus relieving the worker of the necessity of leaning over or getting down upon his knees as is customary in the use of tools as now employed in smoothing or troweling walks or floor surfaces.

A further object is to so construct the tool that the parts thereof will exert yielding pressure against the plastic material being smoothed and thus the same ironing effect a to press out the water in the manner accomplished when the surface is troweled, is obtained, and to also form the blade in such a manner that the plastic material will not chap or scrape but will be smoothed and packed to thus present a finished surface which will be compact and more or less polished.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter set forth in connection with the drawings and then more particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings a figure is shown which illustrates the device of my invention in perspective. v

The handle 1 is of the usual type and has a stem 2 extended from the end thereof. The blade 3 is preferably formed from sheet metal which is bent up to have a volute form when viewed in end elevation and this smoothing blade is made of a length equal to that which it is desired to have the width of the tool, the blade 3 being secured on the end of the stem 2 at the outer central edge.

In the use of the tool as described, the

concrete or other plastic material will be spread in the usual manner and then by grasping the handle 1 the tool can be worked overthe surface of the plastic material so that the rolled lower side of the blade 3, will bear within the material and will smooth out irregularities to bring the surface of the material down to the same plane. It is preferable that the stem 2 and the plate forming the smoothing blade 3 be made more or less flexible and thus as variation in the downward pressing force exerted upon the handle 1 may occur, these parts will flex and will thus tend to give more equal pressure upon the surface of the plastic material over all parts. Further, by making the blade 3 of flexible sheet material, a resilient action is always accomplished upon the concrete in the movement of the scraper plate either forwardly or rearwardly and the same ironing action to squeeze the water from the concrete is accomplished as is obtained when a surface is worked over with a smoothing trowel. Further, even though a more or less choppy stroke of the tool may be employed in the initial smoothing, the surface will not be scraped and will not show material indentation or irregularities in its surface as would be apparent if an inherently rigid structure be embodied as the head.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a smoothing tool which is adaptable for use in smoothing off and ironing out the surface of a walk, floor, or other portion. being formed of concrete or like plastic material, which permits the operator to use the tool without stooping or kneeling and which at the same time accomplishes a most eflicient smoothing and ironing action which will not only level off the surface but will iron out surplus moisture and form a smoother and more polished top surface, the parts at the same time being so constructed that all danger of the surface chapping or being scraped is overcome.

While I have herein shown and described only one specific form of the structure, it will of course be understood that the smooth ing blade might be made of greater or less size proportionately than is here illustrated, that greater or less curve might be given to the blade, that the stem 2 can be constructed to partake of other forms and might even be made substantially rigid to thus place all of the resiliency in the blade and that other changes and modifications might be resorted to in the form and arrangement of the parts Without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and hence I do not Wishto 1 be limited to the exact disclosure but rather only to such points as may be set forth in the claim.

I claim:

As a. new article of manufacture a smoothing tool especially adapted for use in connection with cement Work comprising a handle, a resilient stem secured to said handle, a' smoothing blade comprising a sheet of flexible material bent to present substantially volute form in end elevation, the outer end of said blade being secured to said flexible stem, the inner end of said blade being coiled under the outer end thereof for producing a yieldable blade and permitting the same to move in a flexible and yieldable manner over a spread surface for smoothing out irregularities Within the cement and bringing the same to the surface forproducing a smooth and even finished product.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

LILYAN LIZA MORAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five eents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Y Washington, D. G, I 

